Games and history in (post)digital culture, 3-5 credits

14.-18.5.2007, University of Coimbra, Portugal

prof. Jaakko Suominen and senior lecturer, dr. Anna Sivula

Course Summary

Different forms of playing games have emerged in contemporary culture. Aim of this course is to study merely digital games in the context of the cultures of history focusing on how to use games in teaching history. Also we discuss the cultures of history as an internal phenomenom in gaming cultures focusing on methods of studying history of gaming.

Preliminary Course Programme

Tuesday 15th of May

1 h Course objectives, tasks and evaluation, introduction of the teachers and the students (prof. Suominen and Dr. Sivula)

1 h Discussion on gaming cultures and histories based on the pre-read article (Jussi Parikka & Jaakko Suominen: "Victorian Snakes? Towards A Cultural History of Mobile Games and the Experience of Movement." Game Studies 1/2006) (Sivula and Suominen)

LUNCH BREAK 12:00 to 14:00

½ h Instructions to the personal gaming history assignment (Suominen)

1-1½ h Writing of the gaming history (Suominen)

1-1½ h Instructions for the planning assignment (uses of games in teaching history) (Sivula) Note! Remember to think learning competencies.

Together: 5-6 hours

Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th of May

Independent work for students within the planning task [SUBMIT YOUR PRELIMINARY PAPERS HERE]

Guidance and tutoring for the assignments and probably for something else if needed 4-5 hours (Sivula and Suominen)

Teachers prepare their lectures for Friday using writings submitted by the students (deadline of the planning assignment is Thursday 6 pm)

Thursday 17th of May

 

"Offizh" hours at Santa Cruz café from 10 am to 1 pm: you can find Anna and Jaakko in there to discuss about your assignments

Friday 18th May

2 h Technobiographical research method and analyses of the gaming histories (Suominen) (related reading Kennedy, Helen: ”Technobiography: Researching Lives, Online and Off“ Biography - Volume 26, Number 1, Winter 2003, pp. 120-139)

LUNCH BREAK 12:00 to 2:00 pm

3 h Presentation of the planning tasks, comments and developing (Sivula)

1 h Summary of the course, evaluation discussion and filling of the feedback form (Sivula & Suominen)

Together: 5 hours

Outside Resources